Thiruvananthapuram
Renowned Malayalam writer and Jnanpith laureate, M T Vasudevan Nair, triggered debates in Kerala with his pointed critique of political authoritarianism during a literary festival in Kozhikode. While some speculated that his remarks were aimed at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, others believed it targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. MT, delivering the keynote address, commented on power leading to dominance or authoritarianism, drawing attention to the legacy of Marxist leader EMS Namboothiripad.
Amid the controversy, the Marxist party’s publication, Deshabimani, published a clarification reportedly provided by MT himself, asserting that his remarks were not against Vijayan or his government. Opposition leader V D Satheesan welcomed MT’s commentary on power and its corrupting influence, highlighting ongoing violence in the state.
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala hoped MT’s words would open CM Vijayan’s eyes, while BJP chief K Surendran viewed the criticism as a reflection of general sentiment. Ministers Saji Cheriyan and Mohammed Riyas rejected the idea that MT targeted Vijayan, with CPI(M) leader E P Jayarajan suggesting the criticism was directed at PM Modi.
Pro-left cultural activist Ashokan Charuvil defended MT, claiming the controversy was propagated by ‘right-wing media.’ Poet Satchidanandan viewed MT’s words as a general statement against authoritarianism, while film director Joy Mathew and actor Hareesh Peradi applauded the writer’s criticism.
In his speech, MT highlighted the degradation of politics, emphasizing the shift from serving people to dominance. The controversy spurred widespread discussions, with newspapers publishing the full text of MT’s speech and social media sharing his sharp references, further intensifying the debate.
